Kansas City real estate leader Hugh Zimmer passes away

Hugh Joseph Zimmer, who retired as chairman of Kansas City-based Zimmer Companies in 2015, passed away Feb. 1 after a brief illness.

Zimmer was born to Helen and Al Zimmer in 1930 and grew up in Kansas City. He attended Prairie Grade School, Southwest High School and the University of Missouri. Zimmer also holds a degree in finance and real estate from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania.

While at the University of Pennsylvania, Zimmer was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma, honorary business scholastic fraternity. At Mizzou, he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He was recognized as Beta Man of the Year in 1987 and is on the wall of fame in Columbia.

Zimmer entered the commercial real estate business in 1953 and was a leader in the industry locally, regionally and nationally for more than 65 years. In 2015, Zimmer retired as chairman of Zimmer Companies, Inc., a group of interrelated real estate firms that includes Zimmer Development Company, Zimmer Management Company and Newmark Grubb Zimmer as well as numerous project development and investment entities.

A leading developer in the region for more than 45 years, Zimmer was responsible for the development of more than 2,900 acres of business parks and 30 million square feet of commercial buildings throughout Kansas City as well as major markets across the country. During this time, he also developed investment properties in St. Louis, Louisville, Memphis, Dallas, Atlanta, Oklahoma City and New Orleans.